Cleaning lenses.

[photog4life]

I get the general process of cleaning. It's not hard. But, i also buy a lot of older lenses from antique stores and what not. Sometimes they put the sticker on the lens *cringe* but for 10 bucks it's hard to pass up. So what can you use to do "harder" cleaning.? I was thinking that alcohol would be good for it? But, I was talking to some people at the glasses place and they had mentioned that for some coatings on lenses (glasses) the alcohol can cause scratches? Is that similar for photo lenses? If i can't use alcohol what should I use?

Also, side question are you able to wash the microfiber cloths?

These are probably pretty stupid questions but I would rather be safe then sorry. Thanks,guys!

 

[shaylou]

As far as washing the cloth you have to or they want work. Once they gather oil all they do is smear the glass. I wash mine all of the time.

 

[Derrel]

Yes, microfiber cloths can be washed. I use Dawn or Lemon Joy liquid dishwashing solution, and PLENTY of rinses. I squeeze out the water, then place the cloth over a large martini glass to dry. I think it's important never to use boiling water, since that shrinks the fibers. HEAT is how they get the fibers to shrink, as I understand it. I keep my cloths in a closed cabinet, to keep them free of household contaminants,. like say airborne cooking oils and such.

Kodak used to make lens cleaner. Edmund Scientific used to offer a really NICE de-greaser. There are still a number of commercial lens cleaners on the market, sold through the big photo stores. I do not think cleaners will scratch glass, although some old lens coatings might suffer from some solvent-type, bad lens cleaners. SOME of the old lenses made in the 1950's and earlier had pretty soft glass, and have a LOT of cleaning marks--a nice way of saying scratches...

 

[TCampbell]

I squeeze out the water, then place the cloth over a large martini glass to dry.

<Gasp!> A tragic use of a martini glass. I have a weakness for vodka martinis with blue-cheese stuffed olives. The idea sounded absolutely vile... until I had one.

 

[KmH]

Lens makers use acetone instead of alcohol on the glass.

On the lens body you can use a mild detergent, like dish washing liquid.

 

[DarkShadow]

I use Eye glass cleaner from the eye doctor with my microfiber cloth and a small bottle is cheap and last a long long time.It seems almost orderless never streaks on me and it's design is for plastic and glass lenses scratch or non scratch resistant coatings.

 

[480sparky42 41]

Yes, microfiber cloths can be washed. I use Dawn or Lemon Joy liquid dishwashing solution, .......

I never use any solution when cleaning mine. I just spend a lot of time at the sink soaking & rinsing with cool water. I do, however, use Dawn to clean my hands prior to doing so, but always followed with a good, long rinse to make sure my hands are clean of any contaminants and Dawn.

 

[dubiousone]

They use alcohol at the factory on lenses so I'd think that would be good to go. Just don't soak it. The drugstore variety is basically the same with more water. A lens cleaning solution is a good alternative. Alcohol and a Qtip will take that sticky tag stuff off easily. I use a makeup brush to get stuff off, then a rocket blower and then, if the lens is really cruddy I use lens tissue instead of a micro cloth. For those dry rubber focus/aperture rings the wipes they sell for car interiors like Mequiar's work very well restoring those but any you get on the smooth plastic will make it really messy and slippery. I wear rubber gloves, have lens caps on, and fold the sheet up until I'm only touching the rubber. After all that dry/white stuff is gone I let it sit and after a bit I'll wipe down the lens to make sure I get the 'extra' off.

 

[dubiousone]

Oh BTW, if you have any of those 90/00 rubber coated cameras, for some reason that Y2K fake rubber turns sticky, Mequiar's wipes do a decent job of mitigating the stickies.

 

[DarkShadow]

Oh BTW, if you have any of those 90/00 rubber coated cameras, for some reason that Y2K fake rubber turns sticky, Mequiar's wipes do a decent job of mitigating the stickies.

Yea I had a Nikon D3100 the grip would get sticky like a gummy bear, especially in the hot weather.

 

[photog4life]

Thanks for the help! I never even thought to look into camera lens cleaner! DOH!

 

[Dao]

Lens & Optics Cleaning | B&H Photo Video